An Garda Síochána launches €1m mountain bike equipment procurement

An Garda Síochána has posted a tender notice seeking suppliers for €1 million worth of mountain biking personal protective equipment and clothing for its nationwide Mountain Bike Unit. The contract, published on the government's eTenders platform, covers cycling glasses, helmets, mitts, gloves, shoes, shorts and base layers for officers deployed across Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

In a report by Gript, the procurement will supply gear to both existing garda members assigned to the Mountain Bike Unit and new trainees completing training for the unit. As of January 2025, 1,023 officers are assigned to mountain bike duties across Ireland.

The tender specifications require prospective suppliers to provide high-security storage for all items bearing garda or An Garda Síochána branding. These items must be physically segregated from other goods to prevent unauthorised visibility and handling, with access limited to vetted and approved personnel in accordance with the force's security requirements.

The Garda Mountain Bike Unit was established on a pilot basis in Dublin in April 2001 and expanded throughout the Dublin Metropolitan Region the following year. The unit was subsequently introduced on a phased basis to Cork, Limerick and Galway, reflecting increased deployment of cycle-based policing in urban centres.

The €1 million contract value reflects the scale of equipment required to maintain operational readiness for over 1,000 officers engaged in mountain bike patrol duties. The procurement forms part of ongoing investment in specialist policing units and operational equipment across the force.

The tender request states: "Such items shall be physically segregated from all other goods to prevent unauthorised visibility and handling. Access to these items must be strictly limited to authorised personnel who have been vetted and approved in accordance with the security requirements of the Contracting Authority."

See the details and specifications for An Garda Síochána's mountain bike equipment contract.